Music Training System and Method

ABSTRACT

A system and a method for music training are described. The system includes an application having an evaluation module, an event correlation module, and a feedback module. The application, upon receiving a live performance input via a user device from a musical instrument, generates digital performance data to analyzes various aspects of the performance in real-time. In one embodiment, the event correlation module compares the performance to a composite performance standard, while the evaluation module analyzes rhythm, tempo, duration, dynamics, pedaling, volume, articulation, and note, and the feedback module displays performance evaluation and music score in real-time. In this way, the system analyzes musical performance in a way that is akin to a highly developed musical human perception.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/274,754, filed Jan. 4, 2016, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a system and method forproviding music instructions. More particularly, the present inventionis directed to a computerized system and method for enhancing musicskills and artful performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional music education typically requires students to practiceplaying musical instruments privately, though some practice in formalclassroom settings. Students are evaluated by their teachers on aone-on-one basis so that the teachers can observe students and critiquetheir performance. In most cases, students spend a majority of timepracticing on their own and do not have opportunities to receive timelyfeedback, however. For this reason, it is easy for students to form badhabits that are difficult to break.

Additionally, it can be difficult for teachers to detect every mistakeand shortfalls of students' performances by evaluating them in person.For example, teachers may be unable to observe all of the problems in alimited amount of time. In this way, traditional music education doesnot enable all teachers to provide thoughtful and detailed critique.

Some systems in the prior art claim means for providing musicinstructions with feedback. These include systems that have beenpatented and published in patent application publications. The foregoingis a list of prior art deemed most relevant to the present disclosure,which is herein described for the purposes of highlighting anddifferentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and furtherhighlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

Specifically, Hogan, U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2011/0283866, discloses an education system for playing a musicalinstrument. Hogan discloses comparing test data generated by a studentto a reference data for note, timing, and duration accuracy using thescoring system. However, Hogan is limited in that it does not discloseanalyzing rhythm, tempo, duration, dynamics, pedaling, volume,articulation, and note. Additionally, the reference data includes asingle set of correct or acceptable answers. Thus, Hogan does notdisclose a reference data having a plurality of performance standardsthat is aggregated for the purposes of scoring a student's performance.Additionally, the reference data of Hogan cannot be used for determiningthe student's style of playing music.

Similarly, Moreno, U.S. Pat. No. 8,536,436, discloses a system thatscores a student when playing a musical instrument. The system of Morenoincludes a tracking progress module that collects user performanceinformation and compares it to skills of other people. Preferably, theuser is compared to other people sharing a similar characteristic withthe user, such as age. In this regard, the system of Moreno does notnecessarily disclose reference data that is generated by experiencedmusicians and/or artists. In this way, the system of Moreno is directedto a peer review system rather than an object-oriented system.

Humphrey U.S. Pat. No. 8,847,053, discloses a system that comprises adynamic point reference grid, which includes a tempo map for a musicalcomposition. The dynamic point reference grid does not disclose MIDI andaggregate performance standards generated from expert or modelperformances that can be pre-recorded. The dynamic point reference gridcan be used to analyze at least a portion of a student's performance. Inthis regard, the system of Humphrey does not analyze the student'sperformance based on aggregate performance standards.

Other systems are directed to providing visual feedback to a studentwhile playing music. For instance, Dzakula, U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2013/0164727, and Asahi, U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,441,provide feedback in nearly real-time. In certain embodiments, Dzkulaallows instructors and/or teachers to access the records of thestudent's performances at a later time for evaluation. Dzakula andAsahi, however, do not disclose any reference data. In contrast,Paterson, U.S. Pat. No. 8,735,707, allows a student to record his or herown sessions and share it with his or her contacts at a later time.Thus, Paterson allows the student to receive feedback after theperformance instead of during, thereby eliminating means for receivingreal-time analyses using any reference data.

Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 8,629,342, discloses a system that allows a studentto compare his or her performance to that of an expert's. While Leediscloses reference data that comprises data generated from an expert'sperformance, Lee does not comprise a plurality of data generated from anumber of experts such that the data can be aggregated. In this regard,Lee is disadvantageous in that it would encourage students to imitate asingle artist's performance, thereby discouraging students to exploreand practice different styles and techniques.

The systems disclosed in the prior art have several known drawbacks,however. These systems are limited in that they do not provide analysisusing aggregate reference data, and that they do not provide acomprehensive musical performance evaluation and assessment. In thisregard, the invention described herein addresses this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the disadvantages inherent in the known types of systems forproviding music instructions now present in the prior art, the presentinvention provides an improved system and method for real-time musictraining.

The following discloses a simplified summary of the specification inorder to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of thespecification. This summary is not an extensive overview of thespecification. It is intended to neither identify key or criticalelements of the specification nor delineate the scope of thespecification. Its sole purpose is to disclose some concepts of thespecification in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detaileddescription that is disclosed later.

In certain embodiments, the present system comprises a memory unithaving instructions stored thereon, and a processor operativelyconnected to the memory unit for executing the instructions, resultingin an application. Additionally, the processor is in wired or wirelesscommunication with one or more musical instruments. Preferably, thepresent invention may be used with various types of musical instruments.For the purposes of clarity, however, the present invention will bedescribed as used with a piano or other similar instruments such askeyboards.

In some embodiments, the application establishes communication with adatabase (i.e., remote or local), which comprises the reference data,wherein the reference data comprises, without limitation, MIDI andaggregate performance standards associated with performances by variousexperts and/or artists, as well as other types of data (e.g., musicscores) pertinent for assessing musical performance. The performancestandards may be derived from existing audio and MIDI data and/or from aperformance, depending upon the embodiment. The performance standardscan be updated and/or diversified, for example, by increasing the poolof performance standards as more performances are added to the database.It is contemplated, therefore, that machine-learning algorithm may beused to derive acceptable performance standards from existing and/or newperformances. In this way, the performance standards need not be derivedfrom pre-recorded performances over time.

The aggregate performance standard for each musical piece isconsolidated with a music score to determine a composite performancestandard. The music score represents each musical event (e.g., notesplayed, pedaling, etc.) in a data set that can be correlated with eachmusical event of each performance, thereby allowing each event to beanalyzed and displayed together.

In some embodiments, the application is configured to digitize sounds ofa student's musical performance (i.e., a live musical performance) onthe musical instrument. The digital performance data is used to evaluatevarious aspects of the student's performance via an evaluation module ofthe application. Without limitation, the performance data includesvarious musical events in a musical piece played, including each noteplayed, the volume of each note, and the duration of each note played.In other embodiments, other data may comprise data pertaining to use ofa pedal, if applicable.

The digital performance data that is generated from the student'sperformance is compared to the reference data in the database inreal-time via an event correlation module of the application. Morespecifically, the digital performance data from the student'sperformance is compared to the composite performance standard that isassociated with the same musical piece. If the student's performancedata falls within an acceptable range as defined by the compositeperformance standard, the application determines that the student'sperformance is up to standard. If the student's performance data fallsoutside of the acceptable range, then the application determines thatthe student's performance is below standard. For example, if the studentperformance data comprises extra notes or missing/delayed/early notes,the student's performance is below standard. Additionally, theapplication is configured to determine how close the student'sperformance is to the composite performance standard.

Performance evaluation is delivered to the student performer inreal-time via a feedback module, which is configured to show a graphicaldepiction of a music score and/or a visualization of the performanceevaluation. The feedback module is further configured to display alerts(e.g., messages or graphic indicators) to the student. In this way, thestudent can make an immediate correction without the need for ateacher's supervision and resume practicing.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a musictraining system that evaluates musical performances against compositeperformance standards, wherein the composite performance standardscomprise aggregate performance standards combined with a music score foreach musical event in a musical piece.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a system forproviding music instructions by analyzing rhythm, tempo, duration,dynamics, pedaling, volume, articulation, and note via an evaluationmodule.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a systemfor providing music instructions by correlating notes and events of alive musical performance with the same notes and events in the referencedata via an event correlation module.

It is still another objective of the present invention to provide asystem and method for providing music instructions for keyboard musicalinstruments.

It is still another objective of the present invention to provide asystem for providing real-time feedback via a feedback module.

In the light of the foregoing, these and other objectives areaccomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention,wherein the novelty of the present invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description,taken in conjunction with the accompanying exemplary drawings, in whichlike reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a high-level block diagram of an embodiment of the presentsystem.

FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram of an embodiment of the present system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the reference data of the present system.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the evaluation feature of the presentsystem.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show embodiments of the event correlation module and theevaluation module in operation.

FIG. 6 shows a high-level logic diagram of the present system.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a machine in the example form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, for causing themachine to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein, maybe executed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards a system and method forproviding evaluation and assessment of musical performances. Forpurposes of clarity, and not by way of limitation, illustrative views ofthe present system and method are described with references made to theabove-identified figures. Various modifications obvious to one skilledin the art are deemed to be within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “module,” “system,”“interface,” or the like are generally intended to refer to acomputer-related entity, either hardware or a combination of hardwareand software. For example, a component can be but is not limited tobeing, a process running on a processor, an object, and/or a computer.By way of illustration, both an application running on a controller andthe controller can be a component. One or more components can residewithin a process and/or thread of execution and a component can belocalized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. As another example, an interface can include I/O componentsas well as associated processor, application, and/or API components.

It is to be appreciated that determinations or inferences referencedthroughout the subject specification can be practiced through the use ofartificial intelligence techniques. In this regard, some portions of thefollowing detailed description are presented in terms of algorithms andsymbolic representations of operations on data bits or binary digitalsignals within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions andrepresentations may be the techniques used by those skilled in the dataprocessing arts to convey the substance of their work to others skilledin the art.

Furthermore, the claimed subject matter can be implemented as a method,apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or anycombination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosedsubject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein isintended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device, or media.

Discussions herein utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing,”“computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “establishing,”“identifying,” “analyzing,” “checking,” or the like, may refer tooperations(s) and/or process(es) of a computer, a computing platform, acomputing system, or other electronic computing device, that manipulateand/or transfer data represented as physical (e.g., electronic)quantities within the computer's registers and/or memories into otherdata similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer'sregisters and/or memories or other information storage medium that maystore instructions to perform operations and/or processes.

Some embodiments of the present invention may include one or more wiredor wireless links, may utilize one or more components of wirelesscommunication, may utilize one or more methods or protocols of wirelesscommunication, or the like. Some embodiments may utilize wiredcommunication and/or wireless communication.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with various devices andsystems, for example, a personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, amobile computer, a laptop, a tablet computer, a server computer, ahandheld device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wirelesscommunication device, a smart phone, a non-portable device, a wirelessaccess point (AP), a wired or wireless router, a wired or wirelessmodem, a wired or wireless network, a local area network (LAN), awireless LAN (WLAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wireless MAN(WMAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a personalarea network (PAN), a wireless PAN (WPAN), or networks operating inaccordance with existing and/or future versions and/or derivatives oflong-term evolution (LTE), a device which incorporates a globalpositioning system (GPS) receiver or transceiver or chip, a device whichincorporates an RFID element or chip, a multiple input multiple output(MIMO) transceiver or device, a single input multiple output (SIMO)transceiver or device, a multiple input single output (MISO) transceiveror device, a device having one or more internal antennas and/or externalantennas, or the like.

Moreover, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as anexample, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design describedherein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the wordexemplary is intended to disclose concepts in a concrete fashion. Asused in this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive“or” rather than an exclusive “or.” Additionally, the articles “a” and“an” as used in this application and the appended claims shouldgenerally be construed to mean “at least one” or “one or more” unlessspecified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singularform.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a block diagram and asimplified diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the present system. Thesystem comprises at least one network-enabled user device 104 having amemory unit 101 with instructions 102 stored thereon, and a processor103 operatively connected to the memory unit 101, wherein the processor103 is configured to execute the instructions 102 to result in anapplication 106, wherein the application 106 can comprise a mobileapplication, a computer application, a web application, a website, aplug-in, and the like. The user device 104 comprises various types ofcomputers such as a tablet computer 104A or a desktop 104B in a network201.

In some embodiments, the application 106 is supported via a server 113,wherein the server 113 also comprises a computer with a memory unit 111having instructions 112 stored thereon, and a processor 114 connected tothe memory for executing the instructions 112 (i.e., for supporting theapplication 106). In the illustrated embodiment, the application 106comprises an evaluation module 108, a feedback module 109, and an eventcorrelation module 110. The application 106 is configured to facilitatecommunication between the user device 104 and one or more musicalinstruments 107, for instance, via a user interface 120 that is visibleon a display device 105 (i.e., display screen, monitor) of the userdevice 104.

The user interface 120 enables a user to interact with one or morecomponents of the present system (e.g., user device 104). In someembodiments, the user interface 120 is configured for receiving commandsvia user input and for displaying information. For example, the userinterface 120 comprises a graphic user interface (GUI) having a login/log out screen, a home page screen, a student summary screen, afeedback screen, a score history screen, user preferences screen, etc.

The user device 104 is connected to the musical instrument 107 in awired or wireless manner. In certain embodiments, the musical instrument107 comprises a piano 107A and/or another type of keyboard instrumentwith MIDI output 107B. The musical instrument 107 may be configured totransmit data to a computer system connected thereto. More particularly,the musical instrument 107 is configured to transmit analog sound wavesgenerated from a student's live musical performance to the user device104 connected thereto, wherein the user device 104 is configured todigitize the analog sound waves (e.g., via an A/D converter) in order togenerate digitized performance data associated with the studentperformer. In this way, the digitized performance data comprises livemusical performance performed by the student.

In some embodiments, the application 106 is configured to prompt thestudent to play a musical piece that is associated with a reference data115 stored in a database 119, wherein the reference data 115 comprisesperformance standards for the same musical piece performed by thestudent. In some embodiments, the application 106 may be configured torecognize a musical piece performed so that as the student startsperforming, the evaluation module 108 can automatically refer to thecorresponding reference data 115 in the database 119. Alternatively, theapplication 106 is configured to refer to the corresponding referencedata 115 from the database 119 upon receiving user input (i.e., title ofa musical piece) from the student, via for example, the user interface120. In this regard, the student can enter or select the title of amusical piece and then play that musical piece.

During the performance, the event correlation module 110 is configuredto correlate the notes that the student is playing with the same notesplayed in the reference data 115. The event correlation module 110 isalso configured to correlate other events, such as pedaling and flippinga lever on the instrument 107. Correlating musical events in thestudent's performance with the musical events in various performancestandards in the reference data 115 allows the application 106 torecognize the student's performance style. More specifically, the eventcorrelation module 110 is configured to determine whether the student'sperformance style is similar to one or more combinations of theperformance standards used for reference data 115 in order to analyzethe student's performance more effectively.

The evaluation module 108 of the application 106 is configured toevaluate the student's live musical performance by analyzing thedigitized performance data. The evaluation module 108 analyzes variousaspects of the student's performance in real-time. Without limitation,the evaluation module 108 can analyze rhythm, tempo, duration, dynamics,pedaling, volume, articulation, and note during a live musicalperformance. For example, the evaluation module 108 is configured toanalyze each note that is played; the time at which a note is depressed;the speed that each key is depressed; the duration of which each key isdepressed; and the time and manner in which pedals are used. In thisway, evaluation module 108 analyzes musical performance in a way that isvery close to a highly developed musical human perception. In someembodiments, the evaluation module 108 is configured to analyze thestudent's performance based on the student's performance style asdetermined by the event correlation module 110.

As the evaluation module 108 completes evaluation in real-time andgenerates performance evaluation and music score, the feedback module109 displays the student's music score and/or a visualization of theperformance evaluation. The score may be displayed either in atraditional page layout or as a single horizontal sequence of musicnotation, depending upon embodiment. The score may also be displayed aseither traditional music notation or some alternative musical notation.The evaluation visualization may be displayed either as markings on thescore, or adjacent to the score, as either a two-dimensional orthree-dimensional visualization or graphic display. Additionally, theevaluation visualization may be displayed in form of text or messages.The student can set user preferences via the user interface 120 tomodify how the score/performance evaluation is displayed. In this way,students can make immediate corrections without a teacher's supervisionwhile performing.

Optionally, each of the sessions (i.e., a student's performance) may belogged or recorded so that the students and/or teachers can access andreview previously played performances at a later time. Moreover, loggedor recorded performances can be used for further analysis, such as thestudent's performance style and musicality. Digitized performance data,music score, and performance evaluation associated with the studentperformer can be stored in a database 119, which is in communicationwith the user device 104, via the network (e.g., the Internet, intranet,etc.).

In addition, the database 119 comprises reference data 115, studentaccount information 116, and teacher account information 118. Thestudent account information 116 comprises account information associatedwith a student (e.g., username, password, assigned instructor(s),billing information, etc.) and student summary 117. Without limitation,the student summary 117 comprises information relating to the student'sperformances, previous evaluations, and the student's progress.Similarly, the teacher account information 118 comprises accountinformation associated with a teacher (e.g., username, password,assigned students, credentials, etc.).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the reference data 115 includes performancestandards 301A-301C generated by one or more artists. In this regard, afirst performer generates a first performance standard 301A; a secondperformer generates a second performance standard 301B; a thirdperformer generates a third performance standard 301C, and so on. All ofthe performance standards are aggregated or averaged to determineaggregate performance standards 302, which is consolidated with musicscore 303 to determine a composite performance standard 304.

The performance standards 301A-301C are aggregated or averaged into asingle data set, which defines the acceptable ranges for data points ordefines several different acceptable artistic interpretations of themusic. Each musical event (e.g., notes played, pedaling, etc.) in a dataset representing a music score 303 is correlated with each musical eventof each performance, thereby allowing each event to be analyzed anddisplayed together.

In some embodiments, a performance standard 301A-301C may be derivedfrom a new performance (i.e., performed live) or derived from anexisting audio and MIDI data in the database. If an existing audio(i.e., stored in the database 119 (FIG. 1)) is used, then all of thedata associated therewith, including music scores, from the database isincorporated for use. If the performance standard is derived from a newperformance, then the data associated with the performance standard doesnot need to be derived from the database. This is advantageous in thatnot all musical pieces need to be performed beforehand in order toderive reference data 115.

It is contemplated that the new performance may be performed live,streamed, recorded, or uploaded (e.g., via a USB or remote memory unit)by a user (i.e., a teacher or a student). In this regard, reference data115 in the database 119 (FIG. 1) is continuously updated to add newperformance standards and/or update existing performance standards. Insome embodiments, the present system may be in communication with thirdparty systems to receive new and/or updated performance standards fromthird party sources. Each time performance standards are updated oradded, the aggregate performance standards 302, and thereby thecomposite performance standards 304, are also updated.

Each of the performance standards 301A-301C defines acceptable valuesfor various factors in all of the notes played in a piece. In this way,the composite performance standard 304 can define acceptable thresholdranges for various musical factors in all of the notes played in apiece. For example, a first performance can play a note at loudnessvalue of 60, and a second performance can play a note at loudness valueof 70. The loudness values of the performance standards are compared tothat of a student's in order to determine the acceptable loudness rangefor that particular student. If the student's loudness value is closerto 60, then the acceptable range may be 58 to 62. If the student'sloudness value is closer to 70, then the acceptable range may be 68 to72. Alternatively, the performance standards can be averaged so that theacceptable range represents all of the performance standards, dependingupon embodiment. Thus, if the first performance can play a note atloudness value of 60 and the second performance can play a note atloudness value of 70, the average loudness value is 65 and theacceptable range is 63 to 67. The system may optionally include a marginof error (e.g., 10%), wherein the margin of error may be set by defaultor adjusted by a teacher. Accordingly, the acceptable range for theloudness value can differ from a student to a student, depending on eachstudent's performance style.

In operation, the user can enter or select a musical piece to play viathe application 401. Once the musical piece is selected or identified,the application is configured to load and/or to retrieve reference dataassociated with the musical piece, wherein the reference data comprisesthe composite performance standard associated with the musical piece.Upon entering the musical piece, the application receives input from alive student performance 402. The live performance is digitized 403 orconverted into a digital performance data 407, wherein the digitalperformance data comprises musical events associated with the musicalpiece. The event correlation module 110 then correlates the musicalevents in the digital performance data with corresponding musical eventsin the reference data and compares the digital performance data with thecomposite performance standard 404. In this regard, the eventcorrelation module 110 can determine the student's performance stylebased upon the amount of correlation between the musical events in thestudent's performance data and the musical events in the performancestandards

The evaluation module 108 determines whether the digital performancedata falls within an acceptable range for one or more musical factors(i.e., by analyzing notes, rhythm, dynamics, articulation, tempo,pedaling, etc.) as defined by the composite performance standard 405. Ifthe evaluation module 108 determines that the student's data from thelive performance fall within the predetermined threshold or acceptablerange as defined by the composite performance standard 304, theevaluation module 108 determines that the student is performing tostandard. If the evaluation module 108 determines that the student'sdata falls outside of the predetermined threshold, the evaluation module108 determines that the student is failing to meet the standard. Forexample, if the evaluation module 108 does not detect any notes atappropriate times or detects extra notes, it also determines that thestudent is failing to meet the standard. Additionally, the evaluationmodule 108 is configured to determine how close the student's data fallswithin the predetermined threshold by providing qualitative and/orquantitative information. For example, the evaluation module 108 isconfigured to identify components or factors that the student has notmet, such as notes and/or volume. Alternatively, the evaluation module108 is configured to calculate the percentage gap between an acceptablerange and the student's range. The feedback module 109 is configured todisplay performance evaluation and music score in real-time 406.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, there are shown embodiments of theevent correlation module and the evaluation module in operation. In theillustrated embodiments, the evaluation module 108 (FIG. 1) analyzes thefollowing musical factors: rhythm 501, tempo 502, duration 503, dynamics504, pedaling 505, volume 506, articulation 507, and note 508 from astudent performance 117. Additionally, in FIG. 5A, the event correlationmodule 110 (FIG. 1) correlates the musical events in the studentperformance 117 with musical events in a first performance standard301A, a second performance standard 301B, and a third performancestandard 301C.

The event correlation module 110 (FIG. 1) can determine that the rhythm501 of the student performance 117 correlates mostly to the firstperformance standard 301A. In this regard, the evaluation module 108(FIG. 1) utilizes the acceptable range for rhythm from the firstperformance standard 301A to analyze the rhythm from the student'sperformance. Similarly, the event correlation module 110 (FIG. 1) candetermine that the tempo 502 of the performance 117 correlates mostly tothe second performance standard 301B. In this regard, the evaluationmodule 108 (FIG. 1) utilizes the acceptable range for tempo from thesecond performance standard 301B to analyze the tempo from the student'sperformance. Certain components of the student performance can correlateto more than one performance standard. For example, the duration 503 ofthe student performance 117 correlates to both the first performancestandard 301A and the second performance standard 301B. In this regard,the evaluation module 108 (FIG. 1) utilizes the acceptable range forduration from the first and second performance standards 301A, 301B toanalyze the duration from the student's performance. In someembodiments, two or more performance standards (e.g., first and secondperformance standards 301A, 301B) can be averaged to determine anaverage acceptable range.

If the student performance does not meet any of the performancestandards, then the student performance 117 does not meet the compositeperformance standard 304. For example, if the student misses a note orplays additional or incorrect notes, the notes 508 played in the studentperformance 117 do not meet the first performance standard 301A and thesecond performance standard 301B. Therefore, the notes played 508 in thestudent performance do not meet the composite performance standard 304,as shown in FIG. 5B.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a high-level logic diagram ofthe present invention. To start 601, the application of the presentinvention provides a GUI from which users can sign-in to his or heraccount 604. As used herein, the term “user” refers to a student or ateacher, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. If the user doesnot have an existing account 603, the user can create an account 602 byproviding account information (e.g., username) and/or credentials beforesigning in and arriving at a home page.

The account can be a teacher account of a student account. The teacheraccount can be used to evaluate registered students' progress, assignhomework, and communicate with students (e.g., via messages). Thestudent account can be used to log practices, complete assignments, andcommunicate with teachers. If the user is a teacher and the teacher hasa teacher account 605, then the teacher can select, from the home page,a student to review 606 the student's progress. If the student is a newstudent, the teacher can add the student 607 and then select thatstudent to view the student summary 609. Similarly, the teacher canremove students. Without limitation, the student summary 117 (FIG. 1)comprises information about the student as well as the student'sperformances, previous evaluations, and the student's progress. Theteacher can access the student summary to review the student'sperformances and make improvements and/or provide additional critique orcomments.

If the user is a student and the student has a student account 608, thestudent can access his or her student summary 609 to enable the studentto review his or her performances and receive additional feedback (i.e.,from the teacher, not the feedback module). From the student summary,the user can select a music score 610 for a more detailed analysis ofthe student's performance associated with the score. Selecting the musicscore also enables the user to purchase additional music scores from ascore store 611. Because each musical event of a musical performance isin a data set representing a music score, purchasing additional scorescan provide a more comprehensive scoring by scoring more musical eventsin the student's performance. Purchased scores can be selected 610 thenopened 612 to score the student's performance. Scored performances arestored in student score history 613. To log out of the user account, theuser can sign out 614.

Referring now to FIG. 7, is a block diagram of a machine in the exampleform of a computer system within which instructions, for causing themachine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussedherein, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, the machineoperates as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) toother machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate inthe capacity of a server or a client machine in a server-client networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine may be a personal computer (PC), atablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA),cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further,while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The example computer system includes a processor 708 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU)), a main memoryunit 709, and a static memory unit 710, which communicate with eachother via a bus 701. The computer system may further include a displaydevice 702 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube(CRT)). The computer system also includes an alphanumeric input device703 (e.g., a keyboard), a user interface (UI) navigation device 704(e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 705, a signal generation device 711(e.g., a speaker), and a network interface device 712. The computersystem may also include an environmental input device 714 that mayprovide a number of inputs describing the environment in which thecomputer system or another device exists, including, but not limited to,a light sensor, a still photo or video camera, and an audio sensor(e.g., a microphone). Additionally, the computer system includes ananalog-to-digital (A/D) converter 713 for digitizing the analog soundwaves received, for example, via a microphone, into digital format.

The disk drive unit 705 includes a machine-readable medium 706 on whichis stored one or more sets of data structures and instructions 707(e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the methodsor functions described herein. The instructions 707 may also reside,completely or at least partially, within the main memory unit 709 and/orwithin the processor 708 during execution thereof by the computersystem. In this regard, the main memory unit 709 and the processor 708are also considered machine-readable media.

While the machine-readable medium 706 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” may include asingle medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributeddatabase, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one ormore instructions 707 or data structures. The term “non-transitorymachine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any tangiblemedium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructionsfor execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform anyone or more of the methodologies of the present subject matter, or thatis capable of storing, encoding, or carrying data structures utilized byor associated with such instructions. The term “non-transitorymachine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but notbe limited to, solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media.Specific examples of non-transitory machine-readable media include, butare not limited to, non-volatile memory, including by way of example,semiconductor memory devices (e.g., Erasable Programmable Read-OnlyMemory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory(EEPROM), and flash memory devices), magnetic disks such as internalhard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and CD-ROM andDVD-ROM disks.

The instructions 707 may further be transmitted or received over acomputer network 601 using a transmission medium. The instructions 707may be transmitted using the network interface device 712 and any one ofa number of well-known transfer protocols. The term “transmissionmedium” shall be taken to include any intangible medium that is capableof storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by themachine, and includes digital or analog communications signals or otherintangible media to facilitate communication of such software.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown anddescribed in what is considered to be the most practical and preferredembodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be madewithin the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications willoccur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the abovedescription then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations insize, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assemblyand use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in theart, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. A music training system, comprising: a user device coupled to amusical instrument, said user device having a memory unit withinstructions stored thereon and a processor operatively connected tosaid memory unit, wherein said processor is configured to execute saidinstructions to result in an application comprising: an eventcorrelation module configured to correlate musical events in a digitalperformance data associated with a musical piece from a live musicalperformance with corresponding musical events in a reference data,wherein said reference data comprises at least one performance standardcombined with at least one music score to provide a compositeperformance standard, further wherein said at least one music scorerepresents each musical event in said musical piece; an evaluationmodule configured to compare said digital performance data with saidreference data to determine whether said digital performance data fallswithin an acceptable range for one or more musical factors as defined bysaid reference data.
 2. The musical training system of claim 1, whereinsaid application further comprises a feedback module configured todisplay performance evaluation and music score in real-time.
 3. Themusical training system of claim 1, wherein said musical instrumentcomprises a keyboard instrument.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The musical trainingsystem of claim 1, wherein said reference data comprises an aggregateperformance standard, said aggregate performance standard comprisingsaid at least one performance standard.
 6. The musical training systemof claim 1, wherein said at least one performance standard is derivedfrom pre-recorded performances.
 7. The musical training system of claim1, wherein said at least one performance standard is derived fromadditional live musical performances.
 8. The musical training system ofclaim 1, further comprising a database in communication with said userdevice, wherein said database comprises said reference data.
 9. A musictraining system, comprising: a user device coupled to a musicalinstrument, said user device having a memory unit with instructionsstored thereon and a processor operatively connected to said memoryunit, wherein said processor is configured to execute said instructionsto result in an application comprising: an event correlation moduleconfigured to correlate musical events in a digital performance dataassociated with a musical piece from a live musical performance withcorresponding musical events in a reference data, wherein said eventcorrelation module is further configured to identify a performancestandard most closely resembling a performance style associated withsaid digital performance data; an evaluation module configured tocompare said digital performance data with said reference data todetermine whether said digital performance data falls within anacceptable range for one or more musical factors as defined by saidreference data.
 10. The musical training system of claim 9, wherein saidacceptable range for said one or more musical factors depend on saidperformance style associated with said digital performance data.
 11. Themusical training system of claim 1, wherein said one or more musicalfactors comprise rhythm, tempo, duration, dynamics, pedaling, volume,articulation, and note.
 12. A method for music training, comprising thesteps of: a) receiving a live musical performance of a musical piecefrom a musical instrument; b) converting said live musical performanceinto a digital performance data, wherein said digital performance datacomprises musical events associated with said musical piece; c)correlating said musical events in said digital performance data withcorresponding musical events in a reference data; and d) comparing saiddigital performance data with a composite performance standard todetermine whether said digital performance data falls within anacceptable range for one or more musical factors as defined by saidcomposite performance standard.
 13. The method for music training ofclaim 12, further comprising the steps of displaying feedback inreal-time, wherein said real-time feedback comprises performanceevaluation and music score.
 14. The method for music training of claim12, wherein said musical instrument comprises a keyboard instrument. 15.The method for music training of claim 12, wherein said compositeperformance standard comprises at least one music score and at least oneperformance standard associated with said musical piece.
 16. The methodfor music training of claim 12, further comprising the steps ofdetermining a performance style by identifying a performance standardmost closely resembling a performance style associated with said digitalperformance data.
 17. The method for music training of claim 16, whereinsaid acceptable range for said one or more musical factors depend onsaid performance style associated with said digital performance data.18. The method for music training of claim 12, further comprising thesteps of recording said digital performance data in a database.
 19. Themethod for music training of claim 15, wherein said at least oneperformance standard is derived from additional live musicalperformances.